QUETTA: Three coal miners, including two Afghan nationals, were killed on Thursday after inhaling poisonous methane gas while working inside a coal mine in Duki district of Balochistan, officials said.

The incident occurred when the miners were working deep inside a private coal mine when methane gas accumulated, according to a district administration official.

The miners lost consciousness after inhaling the gas.

Their colleagues working outside the mine noticed that they had stopped responding and immediately informed the authorities, officials said.

A rescue operation was launched by local miners along with staff from the mines and minerals department.

Rescuers recovered the three miners from inside the mine, but they were already dead due to exposure to a high concentration of methane gas.

The victims were identified as Isa Khan and Shams Ullah, both Afghan nationals, and Sirajuddin, a resident of Pishin district in Balochistan.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2026